W.R. Grace & Company

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MARYLAND FUSRAP SITE

The only Maryland site within the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) is W.R. Grace & Company (see map). FUSRAP was established in 1974 under the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act to identify, investigate, and clean up or otherwise control previously decontaminated Manhattan Engineer District and Atomic Energy Commission sites, together with other sites assigned to the U.S. Department of Energy by Congress, where residual radioactive contamination exceeds current guidelines.

FUSRAP encompasses 46 sites in 14 states and is funded through the Oak Ridge Operations Office. For a general discussion of FUSRAP and associated costs, see the overview of the program presented in the Tennessee section of this report. All costs for waste management activities, program management, and relevant landlord activities attributable to the Department of Energy are provided for within the scope of environmental restoration. There are no FUSRAP sites with either current or planned nuclear material and facility stabilization activity needs. Funding for all sites is 100 percent nondefense.

W.R. GRACE & COMPANY

W.R. Grace & Company is a 36-hectare (90­acre) property on an industrialized peninsula in south Baltimore, Maryland. It is bordered on the north by Curtis Bay, on the west by Curtis Creek, on the east by the Patapsco River, and on the south by the Baltimore Municipal Landfill. The Department of Energy has designated 1.6 of the 36 hectares (4 of the 90 acres) at the W.R. Grace & Company site for remedial action under FUSRAP.

FACILITY MISSION

Processing of radioactive materials began at the site in July 1955 when Rare Earths, Inc. (W.R. Grace's predecessor) entered into a contract with the Atomic Energy Commission. In 1956, the Atomic Energy Commission contract and Rare Earths' license to possess, transfer, and use radioactive thorium were transferred to W.R. Grace & Company. The facility where thorium processing took place (Building 23) operated until late spring of 1957, when W.R. Grace and the Atomic Energy Commission agreed to terminate the contract, effective January 31, 1958.

Thorium processing resulted in approximately 27,540 cubic meters (36,000 cubic yards) of low­level radioactive waste that was buried on the property at various depths over a 1.6-hectare (4­acre) area. Other contaminated materials, such as filter cloths and miscellaneous equipment, were also buried. The Department of Energy currently has no active presence at the site. Access to the designated cleanup area is controlled. No personnel use the area, and W.R. Grace has no plans to develop it.

FUTURE USE

This report assumes that the site will continue to be used as a chemical processing facility. Although the company has no current plan to reuse the affected portion of the property, this report assumes an industrial/commercial future land use. The proposed disposition of the waste generated during cleanup involves consolidation and onsite capping.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

Key regulators for the W.R. Grace site are Environmental Protection Agency Region III, the local health department, and the State Department of the Environment. An environmental compliance assessment of the site in 1990 included a review of applicable portions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act. Additional sampling and analysis were recommended to further define the extent of radioactive contamination and determine whether Resource Conservation and Recovery Act characteristic waste is present in the radioactive waste burial area.

An Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis will be developed to summarize existing radiological conditions and to describe and compare remedial action alternatives and their costs. Future characterization efforts at the site will generate planning data to develop the approach for remedial action.

Major Environmental Restoration Activity Milestones

TASK	COMPLETION DATE Fiscal Year
Assessment (Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis with Action Memorandum)	2006
Remedial Action	2008

ASSESSMENT

Radiation Management Corporation conducted an initial radiological survey of external gamma radiation levels in the landfill area at the site in 1978. Results indicated that the contamination was distributed randomly over the 1.6-hectare (4­acre) waste burial area, with elevated levels of radioactivity measured to a depth of 4.5 meters (15 feet) below the surface.

In July 1979 an aerial radiological survey of the site and nearby areas verified the 1978 findings. After reviewing data from the two surveys, the Department of Energy determined that additional radiological characterization was needed to better define the extent of contamination. In April and October 1979, Oak Ridge National Laboratory completed preliminary survey work to collect sufficient information to plan and carry out a comprehensive survey of the W.R. Grace facility. In the waste disposal area, the survey revealed gamma radiation levels above guidelines. Elevated levels of radioactivity were detected in several locations on the 16-hectare (40­acre) waste management area surrounding the 1.6-hectare (4­acre) residue disposal site. Surfaces in Building 23 also showed radiation levels exceeding guidelines, especially around vats and hoppers, and alpha surface contamination exceeding guidelines on all five levels of the building. Additional radiological and chemical characterization will be required before remedial action begins.

REMEDIAL ACTION

The Department of Energy has not yet performed any remedial action at the site. The scenario used for the Baseline Environmental Management Report cost estimate assumes excavation of contaminated soils, decontamination of Building 23, and disposal of wastes by consolidation and onsite capping. The total volume of waste to be addressed under FUSRAP is estimated at 27,540 cubic meters (36,000 cubic yards) of low-level waste.

Support for remediation will involve activities such as surveying to establish sampling grids and drilling to obtain soil sampling and monitoring well information. Remedial work will employ typical construction equipment to excavate contaminated soils and to restore the areas after excavation. Decontamination of Building 23 will involve washing, scrubbing, and vacuuming areas of concern.

The Department will sponsor a maintenance and monitoring program for two years after remedial action is complete. This report assumes that the property owner will take over these responsibilities at that time. During the two­year period of Department of Energy-sponsored maintenance and monitoring, the Department will monitor ground water, air, surface water, and external gamma radiation in accordance with applicable regulations.

FUNDING ESTIMATE

The following table presents estimated funding information for the W.R. Grace site.